 Attractions
Trinity Wharf: One of the oldest areas of Cairns, the wharf area has been redeveloped and the area features some of the only remaining historic buildings. Trinity Beach is a popular tourist destination, because of its Mediterranean feel with its casual seafront shops and restaurants.
The Pier: An enormous up market shopping centre with boutiques, cuisine, souvenirs and craft cottages, everything you could imagine under the one roof. Also situated at the Pier is the exclusive Radisson Plaza Hotel.
Cairns Museum: Situated in the centre of town at the intersection of Lake and Shields Street, the museum features Aboriginal Artifacts, exhibits of the Hodgkinson gold fields, early timber fields and a display covering the construction of the Cairns to Kuranda Railway. A fascinating view of Cairns and how it developed into a thriving city.
Kuranda Markets: Held at Kuranda every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Very popular markets which sell souvenirs, arts, crafts and produce. These markets are very popular with both the locals and visitors as they cater for every one's needs.
Tjapukai Dance Theatre: A one hour stage show featuring Aboriginal Culture and dancers. A Tourism Award winning group that is located at the base of the Skyrail at Smithfield (suburb of Cairns). This is a fascinating display of Aboriginal culture and dreamtime, a fun and educational insight in to the indigenous lifestyle.
Kuranda Scenic Railway: Not to be missed is the rail trip to Kuranda aboard beautifully preserved, old-fashioned carriages. The train winds its way through magnificent gorges, along precipitous slopes, past crashing waterfalls to one of Australia's most photographed stations at Kuranda.
The Reef Hotel Casino: Located in Cairns, The Reef Casino with its unique glass dome roof, houses a 5 star hotel along with a wide variety of restaurants and bars. The casino features games such as Black Jack, Mini Baccarat, Roulette as well as Keno and poker machines.
Skyrail: The cableway travels seven and a half kilometres over World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest between Smithfield (suburb of Cairns) and Kuranda. There are two stops along the way , both in existing clearings. The Rainforest Station near Red Peak allows people to walk down a boardwalk through the layers of the forest and experience the forest floor.
Palm Cove: Delightful sandy cove approximately 25 km north of Cairns. Several international hotels situated here including the Reef House romantic hideaway, Ramada Great Barrier Reef, The Allamanda and Novotel Resort.
Things To Do Outside Of Cairns:
Green Island: Green Island is a coral cay situated 27 km north east of Cairns. A magnificent spot for snorkelling, its surrounding reefs are a national park.
Fitzroy Island: Fitzroy Island is situated 26 kilometres south east of Cairns. Fitzroy Island is an ideal destination for snorkelling as there is coral just 50 metres off the beach and the island has its own diving school.
Chillagoe: An isolated outback town which was a significant mining centre for copper, silver, lead and gold from the 1890's until the 1940's. At Chillagoe Museum there are relics of the district's mining heyday as well as Aboriginal artifacts. Nearby are the famous Chillagoe Caves- erosion has carved strange formations in this 60 km expanse of limestone. Climb towering structures above ground or tour caves with richly coloured stalactites and stalagmites.
Port Douglas: Port Douglas is a resort area for the rich and fashionable who stay at the world famous Sheraton Mirage. Well known for its championship golf course and the 1996 vacation of President Bill Clinton. It is an excellent centre for exploring the Barrier Reef with an abundance of cruises departing daily, the town has a village atmosphere with many friendly locals. There are other resorts such as Torresian and Treetops as well as self catering apartments, restaurants and boutiques. Breakfast with the Birds at Rainforest Habitat is not to be missed.
Mossman: Mossman is Australia's most northerly sugar cane town and tropical fruit growing area. Beautiful rainforest with a 3 km walking track. Some excellent swimming spots in Mossman Gorge. Location of Silky Oaks wilderness retreat.
Daintree: Daintree is a small township located on the Daintree River. The township was once a cedar wood timber town, but now is well known for its restaurants that serve freshly caught barramundi. There is also the Daintree River Cruise through the rainforest. An abundant amount of birdlife as well as saltwater crocodiles can be seen. Just before the river meets the sea there is a tidal estuary which supports an estimated 200 species of fish and 70 species of crustaceans.
Daintree National Park: See one of our richest mangrove communities and over 1000 tree species in rainforest growing right down to the ocean. Some of Queensland's best coastal scenery awaits experienced bushwalkers. Magnificent tropical rainforest walks around Mossman Gorge may reveal Boyd's forest dragon and a multitude of bids and butterflies.
Cape Tribulation: Mangrove Community where 230 bird species and more than 1000 tree species thrive in rainforest growing from Thornton Peak (1375m) to the edge of the Coral Sea. One of the world's most primitive flowering plants, the idiot fruit, or ribbonwood, tree occurs here. Access from Cooktown by 4WD or across Daintree by ferry.
Great Barrier Reef: The Great Barrier Reef is 2000 kilometres in length and stretches from Gladstone in Queensland's south to Papua New Guinea in the north. The world's largest expanse of Coral Reef, still growing after more than 10,000 years and the world's largest marine park. A World Heritage area, protects 1500 varieties of fish, 400 types of hard and soft coral, 4000 mollusc species and six kinds of turtle.
Australian Sugar Industry Museum: A museum featuring the history of the Australian Sugar Industry. Located on the Bruce Highway at Mourilyan which can be reached via Innisfail. Open 7 days a week.
Cooktown: Cooktown was the first area of Australia discovered by Captain Cook when his boat "Endeavour" was beached in 1770. Nowadays it is a town of approx 3,400 with many preserved grand buildings, relics of a bygone age. The discovery of gold made Cooktown the second largest town in Queensland, in 1874 there was a population of 30,000, half of them Chinese. Joseph Banks the botanist who accompanied Cook took samples of over 186 species of plant life and wrote the first European description of a Kangaroo. Visit James Cook Historical Museum.
Undara Crater and Caves: Explore fascinating caves, tunnels and arches in one of the world's most spectacular networks of lava tubes, remnants of a 100 km basalt pipeline that once flowed from the now extinct Undara volcano.
Atherton Tableland: Look for tortoises in the crystal-clear waters of volcanic lakes Barrine (110 m deep ) and Eacham (146m deep). Visit nearby rainforests after dark to glimpse small bats, bandicoots, big-eyed frogs and a variety of possums.
Mission Beach: Situated two hours south of Cairns Mission Beach is the gateway by ferry to Dunk Island. Cruises operate from here to the Barrier Reef and there are several international standard hotels (The Point Resort and Castaways). The area is famous for the rare Cassowary Bird, fishing , rainforest and crocodile watching.
Tully: Australia's wettest town with an average annual rainfall of 4206 mm.
Nearby Tully River is famous for grade 4 white water rafting. Spectacular for the adventurous, river rafting operated by R'n'R and Raging Thunder.
Cape York: The northernmost tip of Australia and only accessible by air or 4WD. Globally renowned as a birding destination of great consequence. The area boasts 1/3 of Australia's bird species. Pajinka Wilderness Lodge run by the Injinoo Aborigines is located here.
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